(a) Maintenance of Sidewalks. It shall be the duty of every owner of any lot or parcel of land situated within the corporate limits of the Village to keep and maintain good and sufficient sidewalks along all public streets, avenues, boulevards or land adjoining thereto. Any sidewalk that is removed shall be reconstructed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter within 30 days.
(b) Hazardous Sidewalks to be Replaced. No owner of a lot or parcel of land situated within the corporate limits of the Village shall fail to maintain, repair or replace the existing sidewalks along a street adjacent to the owner's lot or parcel allowing any of the following defined hazards.
(1) Stub toes. The vertical misalignment along any part of the seam between two slabs, or between section within a slot fractured by cracks three-fourths of an inch in elevation or greater.
(2) Traverse (lateral) slope. Any individual slabs or portion of a slab that slopes either toward the paved portion of the street or the adjoining property at a ratio of more than three-fourths of an inch per horizontal foot.
(3) Longitude slope. Other than handicapped ramps, each individual slab or fragmented sections of a slab that deviates from average line of the sidewalk surface level at a ratio of more than three-fourth of an inch per lineal foot.
(4) Gaps. A space between slabs and the depth of the gap between slabs in excess of three-fourths of an inch in width; those caused by the absence of a fragmented section of the sidewalk exceeding three-fourths of an inch in width.
(5) Surface quality.
A. Cracked slabs. Slabs fragmented by multiple cracks or any single cracks, where any one of the gaps between fragments is great than three-fourth of an inch in width or depth.
B. Pitted, spalling or scaling slabs. If 25% of the surface of a sidewalk slab, as determined by the Village Administrator, or his or her representative, is pitted, spalled, scaled, chipped or flaked off, the sidewalk shall be replaced.
(6) Surface irregularity. Any surface irregularity in the sidewalk that allows impounding of water to a depth of one-half inch or more.
(c) Standards.
(1) All sidewalks constructed or rebuilt in the Village will be constructed or rebuilt of concrete having a minimum thickness of four inches except where crossed by driveways where minimum thickness will be six inches. Approved brick surfaces may be permitted with concrete base, retaining curbs on both sides and drainage provisions so to prevent flooding, freezing and heaving.
(2) Existing stone or concrete sidewalks meeting with requirements may be relayed if in good condition free of surface defects.
(3) All sidewalks will be a minimum of four feet wide.
(4) Sidewalks will be installed along the frontage and side lots along streets on all lots in the Village where adequate sidewalks do not now exist when a building is erected thereon.
(d) Prohibition Against Removal of Existing Sidewalks. No person may remove existing sidewalks without replacing the sidewalks with new sidewalks unless Council and the Mayor approve removal of the sidewalks.
(e) Contraction Joints. Walks and driveway contraction joins in walks at intervals equal to the width of the sidewalk, and in driveways at approximately ten-foot intervals to be provided by cutting approximately halfway through the slab.
(f) Expansion Joints. Expansion joint material of one-half inch minimum will be placed at property lines around abstractions such as trees and poles. They also will be placed wherever the walk meets a driveway approach or a curb and at intervals not to exceed 50 feet.
(g) Grades and Locations. They are to be provided by the Village, and when determined necessary by the Village Engineer.
(h) Grade Drainage. The grade must drain properly unyielding to standing water.
(i) Subgrade. Soil will be firm and unyielding with no standing water. No concrete will be placed on a frozen subgrade and adequate precautions will be taken to protect the concrete from freezing.
(j) Surface. The surface of the concrete walk and driveway approach will be struck to a true surface and given a light broom finish just prior to the final setting of the concrete. The edges of the walk and driveway approach and all joins will be finished with a one-half inch edging tool.
(k) Barricades. Adequate lights, signs and barricades will be maintained to protect the work and the public.
(l) Trees. Where tree roots have caused damage to the existing sidewalks, it is the obligation of the property owner to contact the Village Administrator to determine whether or not the roots can be cut sufficiently without causing damage to the tree.
(m) Variance.
(1) Request for sidewalk variance. If an owner of a lot or parcel of land in the Village is repairing or replacing an existing sidewalk or is installing a new sidewalk, the owner may petition the Village Administrator for a variance from the provisions of this chapter.
(2) Conditions for granting a variance.
A. Special conditions and circumstances must exist which are peculiar to the proposed replacing or installation of sidewalks.
B. The special conditions and circumstances are not created solely by the applicant.
(3) Approval. The Village Administrator is authorized to use his or her discretion in modifying the strict application of these provisions in order to obtain what is reasonable and at the same time, safe and convenient for both the public and the owner. In cases where the owner is dissatisfied with the modifications made by the Administrator, he or she may appeal to the Mayor whose decision shall be final.
(Ord. 958-09. Passed 6-8-09.)